SOLDIERS' VOTES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 06, Issue 95, 3 August 1943, Page 6

SOLDIERS' VOTES

THEIR ELECTORAL RIGHTS

WHAT THE LAW PROVIDES

Members of New Zealand's armed forces serving in the navy, army or air force in any part of the worlid have preserved to them their electoral rights under legislation placed on the Statute Book in 1940. For many of these men—and women, too —the casting of their votes, will be an event, of some moment in their lives., for it will! be, the first time they will had an opportunity to exercise the. franchise. When the general election takes place, probably early in September, some five years will have elapsed since: the last general election. In the interim thousands of young New Zealanders have reached voting age but have, had no opportunity to express their political views through the medium of the ballot, box. The Electoral Amendment Act is based upon the principle that if a man is good enough to fight for his country he is good enough to vote for his country, irrespective of his age. Technically, all members of the forces overseas are 21 years of age or over, but in reality iti is known that some of them went overseas before reaching that age. Nevertheless, the right to vote is theirs. Under the Act "member of the forces" means any person ordinarily resident in New Zealand who for the time being is a member of any of His Majesty's naval, military or air forces, and includes any such person who has not returned to New Zealand since his discharge from any such force after service overseas; and. also includes; any person resident in New Zealand, who is actually serving with any of the forces as a member of. any voluntary aid or other voluntary organisation. A Registration Point Every member of the forces who for the time being is outside the Dominion is permitted to vote at every election of members of Parliament and at every licensing poll, whether or not he is registered as an, elector of any electoral district. If any such member is registered, as an elector of any electoral district he is qualified to vote as an elector of that district. A member of the forces overseas not registered as an elector of an electoral district is qualified to vote as an elector of the electoral district (as existing at the date of the poll) in which was situated his usual place of residence immediately before he left New Zealand. A person who has returned to New Zealand after service overseas as a member of the forces, and is not registered as; an elector, automatically qualifies to be registered as an elector of. the electoral district in which was situated his usual place of residence immediately before he has left New Zealand, and. will be entitled to vote accordingly. Regulations Issued Regulations under the Act, issued in 1941, provide the necessary machinery for the taking of the vote of members of the forces.„ Rolls have to be prepared and "closed at any convenient time before the close of. nominations." Where possible these rolls must be printed and supplied, "to special returning officers and polling officers for the votes to be taken as far as possible in accordance with the principal Act. t The officer of every unit., whether in New Zealand or elsewhere, comprising members of the forces,, is obliged to afford all necessary facilities to those members to cast their votes. Members of tihe forces in hospitals or other institutions are deemed to be members of a unit under the command of the officers in charge of such institutions. It is also provided that the votes of members of the forces comprised in any unit may be. cast at any convenient time between the closing of nominations and 7 p.m., local time, on the day preceding the polling day appointed, in the writ. For the purposes of the regulations "unit" means any of His; Majesty's naval, military or air forces or any section or detachment of them. Thus provision is made for small groups of men who may be in isolated areas, such for instance as Burma.